I was thrilled to learn that one of my all-time favorite charities, the USO, opened a center in Iraq! Not only is this great news for the troops there, but it’s further evidence that things are stabilizing over there. All good news for the troops.

Four Great Military Comebacks

The four military comebacks below were emailed to me from a retired multi-star General whose name shall remain confidential:

Colin Powell Sets an Archbishop Straight

When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building’ by George Bush.
He answered by saying, ‘Over the years, the United States has sent many of its f ine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.

Why We Ignore Insults From the French

Then there was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break one of the French engineers came back into the room saying ‘Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?‘ A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: ‘Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce severa l thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck.. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?‘

Why We Will Never Speak French

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, ‘whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.‘ He then asked, ‘Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?‘  Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied ‘Maybe it’s because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn’t have to speak German.‘

French Customs Officer is Put in his Place

A group of retired American teachers recently went to France on a tour. Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane.  At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on. “You have been to France before, monsieur?” the customs officer asked sarcastically.  Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.  “Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.“  The American said, “The last time I was here, I didn’t have to show it.“  “Impossible. Ame ricans always have to show your passports on arrival in France!“  The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained. “Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in ‘44 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find any damn Frenchmen to show it to.”

Military Order of the Purple Heart

Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation has been serving U.S. military veterans since it’s founding in 1957.  Their Veterans Business Training Center offers a highly effective job training program to assist “disabled veterans” in becoming “able veterans”.

The mission of the Veterans Business Training Center is to train disabled veterans for potential careers in a variety of industries. Through training and use of readily available technological resources graduates have moved into career position such as market researchers, emergency hotline responders, help desk managers, customer service coordinators, and numerous other positions.

To help support the great work this nonprofit does for veterans and their families make a small donation. (Click the image above to go to the donation page.)

Offer from Veterans Advantage

You’re eligible for the VA Card program if you or a family member is a U.S. Veteran, Active Duty, National Guard or Reservist.

VA Card offers members over $20,000 in benefits from some of the top American companies including Amtrak, Apple, Avis, Continental Airlines, Dell, GNC, Greyhound, Hertz, Hyatt, People Mag, Target and too many more then we can list. Suffice it to say that these companies want to be a part of recognizing your service.

Is there a profit motive involved as well? But of course. We’re not the former Soviet Union. We try to get worthwhile things accomplished using our capitalist system. Check out the program and if it looks like you can take advantage of it and a fair deal then sign up. You have 30 days to test it out and take advantage of what they have to offer and if you decide it isn’t for you then cancel and owe nothing.

Give a test drive by clicking here: Veterans Advantage, Inc.

Returning Bonuses to Wounded Vets

Brigadier General Michael S. Tucker on returning Army bonuses to wounded vets. Soldiers will keep bonuses despite reports of wounded soldiers receiving letters from the Army requesting that they return signing bonuses after injuries caused them to return home before their contract had been “fulfilled”.

Warriors Walk

NBC Nightly news did a story recently about ‘Warriors Walk‘ in GA that is very moving. But, the story also highlights the unwavering pride of able veteran Joel Jacobs. The short video I discovered on YouTube is worth watching and you can find it at the end of this article.

Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Joel Jacobs lost his leg in service with the 92nd Engineer Battalion in Iraq and still makes a trip to Warriors Walk nearly every day to support the fallen warriors from the 3rd Infantry Division. He makes sure the personal effects that adorn the resting places of these warriors are intact and places new items on the sites as well.

Despite not knowing those he so selflessly tends to he feels a strong connection to them and understands just how close he came to being killed himself. I have to believe that if he hadn’t lost his leg he’d have found a way to b back over in Iraq alongside other brave warriors serving our country.

Joel Jacobs is an Able Veteran everyone can look up to! Thank you sir.

We Salute You Sir

Veterans Day

An AP photo of the honor guards marching near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., during the ceremonial Changing of the Guard, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007.

My dad is buried at Arlington National Cemetery and I’m thinking of him and the other unknown soldiers buried there. So many tomb stones, so many names, so many unknown stories. Whenever I think of the soldiers buried there I don’t feel sadness, I feel pride. Although unknown individually they’re all well known. Well known as the strongest and bravest our country has known.

God bless all of you soldiers.

Veterans Day Facts

History of Veterans Day:

Armistice Day, as Nov. 11 was initially known because on that date the armistice ended WWI, became an official U.S. holiday way back in 1926 and a nationally recognized holiday in 1938. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.

In 1968, congressional legislation changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. In 1978 Congress, recognizing that their predecessors had goofed, returned the observance to its traditional date of November 11.

There are official national ceremonies for Veterans Day focusing on the Tomb of the Unknowns. To honor these men and women, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard at Ft. Myer, VA), keeps a day-and-night vigil, regardless of the weather. At 11 a.m. Nov. 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes “Present Arms” at the tomb. The nation’s tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of a presidential wreath and the playing of “Taps.”

A few facts about our veterans:

• There are an estimated 25 million veterans living today.

• More than 48 million Americans have served in our military since the birth of our nation in 1776.

• Every year roughly 80,000 veterans are buried in in National Cemetery system.

If you’re interested in learning more about veterans’ events and organizations, you can contact a local support group, such as the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars. On Veterans Day and Memorial Day, these groups raise money for charity by selling paper poppies made by disabled veterans. This bright red wildflower became a symbol of World War I after a bloody battle among rows of poppies in Belgium’s Flanders Field.

At 11 a.m. on Veterans Day, many Americans observe a moment of silence to remember those who fought for peace. Let’s all observe that moment of silence again this year.